ARAPAIMA colours

[TLkmDN]

16'' at 2 years?? thats so small...:s mine grew to 2 feet in 8 months from 7''

 

[Zoodiver]

what do you mean "was"

"Was" - as in I set it up in the past. That's all.


As for color - there are several factors in arapaima. Some don't color up at all.
Genetics is the biggest part, diet is second, and environment is third. You need all 3 to get a great red color going.

If you get one with a set of color parents, you need a great diet to really bring out the color and good water chemistry and lighting to keep it showing.

jdamian13 - post a picture of it. Doesn't sound like an arapaima gigas.

 

[cichlaguapote]

Today I purchased "what they told me" a Arapaima Giga, he is 4" long, they also had a 2-year old 16" one (he was black w/little red showing). I'm wondering if what I got is a Arapaima cause his colors are Top is light black, the side os the body (most of it) is Teal/Green and the bottom is whiteish w/tiger like spots on his face....
what do I have?... lol

The one you purchased sounds like baby pima. Not sure on the 16"er as it should be far bigger in 2 years. But like Zoodiver said you should post a pic of it to be sure on the ID.

 

[LBathory]

zoo diver, is that a tank in your home? or do you work at an aquarium? either way, thats a beautiful pima and a beautiful amazon tank.

 

[Zoodiver]

Work set up I made. 2nd largest Amazon exhibit in the world (by volume), first largest (at the time) by species and number of fish.

 

[LBathory]

wow. that's amazing. where exactly do you work?

 

[Zoodiver]

I've worked several places, including with the largest freshwater fish tank in the world, and the two largest Amazon exhibits in the world.

 

[tangigi]

Matt,

How do they prevent the arapima from eating the smaller inhabitants in the tank? are they selective feeders?

Lar

 

[Hwarang_Samurai]

Hey Zoo Diver how many Gallons is that tank???

 

[Zoodiver]

Matt,

How do they prevent the arapima from eating the smaller inhabitants in the tank? are they selective feeders?

Lar

You must get them off of live food right away. It's much healthier to have them on prepared foods anyway. Most of mine would only eat right from my hand. They are also smart enough to learn when/where they are fed if you remain consistant with the time/place you feed. Doesn't take much at all, and soon they are there waiting at feeding time.
I can't say I've never lost a fish to an arapaima, but it is very rare. It comes with having a proper size set up, and enough cover for the other fish to feel safe in. Once all fish are in and settled, most small fish will swim right up along side the bigger ones.

Hey Zoo Diver how many Gallons is that tank???

Last Amazon I made was 145,000 gallons. I've also worked on/with a 200,000 gallon Amazon based display.